Singles History

[badgirl]

This is Velvet Revolver related.
So it seems like the order of singles released is a calculated move that the record companies have down to a science. they seem to know which songs on an album are going to be popular and in what order they can be most effective (i.e. rocker first, ballad second)
My question: when in musical history has a song been an unexpected hit?
Because from reading all of your thoughts on the album, everyone loves YGNR and LTA. They are also critical favorites, but haven't been played live or mentioned as trump cards by any of the band members, leading me to believe they don't expect these songs to catch on as well. So, is it possible in today's musical experience to have songs that are underestimated become huge hits? and if so, please provide examples.

If you can't comment intelligently and offer examples and your opinion and why you think the way you do, please don't bother responding to this topic.
 

[Old Man In Chains]

I think "Hey Ya" but Outkast was an unexpected hit. They had another song slated to be released and at the last minute changed their minds.  The song was a risk since it was quite a departure for rap group.  I think LTA could fall into that mold.

[Smoking Guns]

Pour Some Sugar On Me was never supposed to be a single.  It ended up being Def Leopard biggest song ever.  

I think they are hush on You Got No Right and Loving the Aliens.  They hope the album does well with out them.  Then, drop one of those songs and it takes the album to another level with the general public.  It is their power play move.  There are several good songs for singles off of this album.  They must be strategic in what they release to maintain momentum.

[badgirl]

Pour Some Sugar On Me was never supposed to be a single.  It ended up being Def Leopard biggest song ever.  

I think they are hush on You Got No Right and Loving the Aliens.  They hope the album does well with out them.  Then, drop one of those songs and it takes the album to another level with the general public.  It is their power play move.  There are several good songs for singles off of this album.  They must be strategic in what they release to maintain momentum.

those are good points you made, but is that really realistic? do bands keep the buzz on songs under wraps?
and i remember that about Def Leppard. Pour Some Jizz on Me ( ) was barely a song, much less a hit single.   good call on that one.

[Falcon]

It used to happen quite regularly in the 50's, artists like Buddy Holly, Richie Valens etc. had songs that were pressed but never actually released that became groundswell hits.

Can't think of anything in the modern era that "just caught on" so to speak and became a huge hit.

I'm sure there's a few though...

[dave-gnfnr2k]

Ice Ice baby.
It was the B side to Vanilla Ices first single.

[Booker Floyd]

Can't think of anything in the modern era that "just caught on" so to speak and became a huge hit.

I'm sure there's a few though...

Lisa Loeb - Stay, she wasnt even signed to a label when that song blew up.

Norah Jones' success after "Dont Know Why" was kind of surprising.  

Theres actually tons more, none of which I can think of right now.

[dave-gnfnr2k]

gary jules remake of mad world

[Smoking Guns]

You cannot announce your best song first.  If it fails, what do you have to fall back on?  Only go to them if the album sales are in desperate need of some help.  LTA and YGNR are both long songs by today's standards.  So maybe that is why also.  FTP is not that long.

[Sukie]

I don't have any examples to add to singles that took people by surprise by becoming big hits.  

I just wanted to add that maybe VR hasn't mentioned these songs because neither Slash nor Duff ever really cared for "ballad" type songs during their time with GN'R.  We've all heard/read how Axl had to push them to get them to the "softer" songs.  Plus, they are hyping this as a "return of rock" type thing.  If they mention all these softer songs (which I love) they may lose that rock edge.  

[chineseilusions]

I hope they release atleast one slower song it doesn't have to be a  "ballad" just somthing with a slower tempo.

[audjon]

Pearl Jam's Yellow Ledbetter.

Guns N' Roses' Yesterdays (I think that most of us never expected them to release it as a single, I for one was waiting for Pretty tied up or Breakdown as the follow-up to November Rain).

[jarmo]

Pearl Jam "Last Kiss". It was originally released on a fan club single but then radio started playing it and it became a big radio hit.



/jarmo

[gnrmadagascar]

KISS - Beth

It was the song that really made them skyrocket into stardom and made Destroyer a hit. Before that everybody hated Destroyer.

[Evil Ash]

gary jules remake of mad world

doesn't really count! It was a song from the (great) movie Donnie Darko! The movie didn't do very well at the box office but it got a huge Internet cult crowd that was really growing by sending the movie (and the song) around!

Then the song got very popular on the net and a record compagnie in the UK released it as a christmas single and it reached high in the chart while the movie was out for 2-3 years!